Three months ago, Panama 70.3 was a huge flop. Since then I've been working hard to get in the game, especially on swimming to not come out dead last again, and on run volume to kick the last leg up a notch. I didn't pack a wetsuit, thinking it'd be warm down here, and pro wetsuit temp is only 71.5. But sat morning I heard temp was 68... shit. All the work on my swim and I'd be out last again if I didn't find a wetsuit. Ended up being able to rent one from a vendor at the expo. I felt much more nervous going into this race than typical. I think just because my expectations were high from a good streak of training.

 

The swim was very choppy. I like the big ocean swells that some people hate, but this little chop just seemed to smack you in the face and make breathing quite difficult. Maybe I just haven't been swimming in open water in too long. Swim times last year were fast... This time they certainly were not. I don't think I swam poorly and there were about 5 guys behind me, but I only came out in 32 min... eeech... that puts a damper on an overall fast time attempt.

 

I didn't see many people out on the bike. Passed the one girl who had passed me on the swim, I think Laura Bennett. She did a double take as I passed, presumably over my pink helmet. "Don't worry, I'm a guy!" I joked, and she laughed out a little 🙂 The wind going out on the bike was NUTS. Like steady 20+ mph with plenty of 30 gusts. I pushed hard the who way out, knowing my energy was best spent on the headwinds. Thankfully coming back was a breeze. First half was 21.8 mph average with about 30W more than the 27.2 average return.

 

Felt stiff coming off the bike but loosened up after a mile or so. The rest of the first half was out with the wind, and was awesome. I could tell the wind was pushing me along at a pace hardly over 6 min miles. Then the return... Ouch. The headwind was such an added resistance it took a strong conscious effort to push against it to even keep a pace 20 or so seconds slower than the way out. I managed to pass 2 pros in the last 3 miles.  Run split was 30 seconds faster than my goal, and almost a 4 min PR.

 

All in all was 17th of 23 MPros to start. Still close to the bottom, but making upward progress!

 

Sunday night was a lot of fun too. Went to probably 10 different bars and restaurants, almost all of them with live music. Such an atmosphere, even on a Sunday night!

 

Next up Rumpus in Bumpass!